Going through an interview process might be an extensive task, depending on the size of your company or job opening. This also might depend on the number of applicants that we receive on a given day. Ideally, we’d receive a wide variety of candidates, all looking to become a part of our business. Nevertheless, and despite their uniqueness, there are some types of job applicants that you will find in every interview process.
Learning to identify all the different types of job applicants can take some time and efforts. Also, being able to choose the best candidate for our opening can turn into a daunting task. Even more so when we need to see through the unprepared and over-confident applicants, the charismatic and the too-good-to-be-true ones.
The Unprepared Applicant
This might be one of the most common types of job applicants recruiters interact with regularly. The unprepared applicant tends to show up to the interview underdressed, without a resume, and without knowing much about your company. Most of the unprepared applicants are aware of this, and they know how to improvise. You can expect a fair amount of generic answers and a couple of blank faces when you ask them unexpected questions.
The Over-Confident Applicant
On the opposite side of the candidate spectrum, we have the over-confident applicant. This type of job applicant will begin the interview feeling like they got the job already. They might not have the necessary experience or knowledge in the field, but they know how to impress interviewers. From the way they talk, dress, and answer to each and every question without hesitation, over-confident applicants know they are the best choice. And they won’t hesitate on letting you know that, maybe even before the interview has started.
The Charismatic Applicant
Luckily for us, not all the types of job applicants will qualify as obnoxious or annoying. After dealing with those who just won’t cut it, we’ll get to interview one or two charismatic applicants. They are relaxed, prepared, knowledgeable, confident, and might make you want to take them for a coffee break already. Personality is a key element when looking to hire a new member of our team, and charismatic applicants have it. Deep down, you know they will bring the right balance to the company and won’t have a problem getting along with their new colleagues. Just keep in mind that too charismatic candidates might enjoy sharing their charisma than actually working.
The Too-Good-To-Be-True Applicant
Last but not least, we come with the trickiest of all the types of job applicants we’ll always come across. The Too-Good-To-Be-True is simply the perfect fit, the ideal candidate you’ve been waiting for the entire day or week. They have an impressive resume, they are professionally casual, the willingness and enthusiasm to grow along with your company. They always have the right answer, and even when they don’t, they find a way to reply making no mistake. In some cases, they will be the ideal candidate, so you shouldn’t hesitate on giving them a second or third interview. Nevertheless, keep in mind that, whenever someone seems to be too good to be true, they usually are.
